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Colorado

The 2013/2014 survey results show Colorado youth ranked No. 1 in the nation for past month marijuana use, up from No. 4 in 2011/2012.

Colorado youth past month marijuana use for 2013/2014 was 74 percent higher than the national average (12.56 percent vs. 7.22 percent).

Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) ndicated that “marijuana use among teens nationwide also remained flat...” They failed to mention that Oregon and Washington, states with legalized marijuana, and Minnesota did not participate in the 2015 YRBS. There were also ten states, including Colorado, with unweighted results because their state survey participation rate did not meet the 60 percent participation standard set by YRBS.

January 2016 Update:

YOUTH USAGE:

• In the two year average (2013/2014) since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana, youth past month marijuana use increased 20 percent compared to the two year average prior to legalization (2011/2012). o Nationally youth past month marijuana use declined 4 percent during the same time.

• The latest 2013/2014 results show Colorado youth ranked #1 in the nation for past month marijuana use, up from #4 in 2011/2012.

COLLEGE USAGE:
•Colorado college age past month marijuana use for 2013/2014 was 62 percent higher than the national average

ADULT USAGE:
•The latest 2013/2014 results show Colorado adults ranked #1 in the nation for past month marijuana use, up from #7 in 2011/2012.
• Colorado adult past month marijuana use for 2013/2014 was 104 percent higher than the national average compared to 51 percent higher in 2011/2012.

"Marijuana legalization and commercialization is a failed policy and this new report details the impact on many of our populations already impacted by alcohol and tobacco use," said Bob Doyle, Chair of Colorado SAM and a public health professional with more than 20 years of experience in tobacco prevention.

Highlights from the report show serious changes since 2014, when retail marijuana businesses began operating in Colorado, including:

Traffic deaths: 32% increase in marijuana-related traffic deaths in just one year from 2013

Driving under the influence: Toxicology reports with positive marijuana results of active THC for primarily driving under the influence have increased 45%

Marijuana use by children: Colorado youth usage (ages 12 to 17) ranks 56% higher than the national average

ER visits: 29% increase in the number of marijuana-related emergency room visits

Hospitalizations: 38% increase in the number of marijuana-related hospitalizations

Poison control: Marijuana-only related exposures increased 72% in only one year